Activision Balks At No UK Tax Cut

Activision is threatening to shut down its UK development office after the government scrapped planned tax relief for the video game industry. The company is threatening to shut down its Slough office which employs over 600 people.

The new coalition government is scanning the books and trying to trim the deficit, and a planned tax relief proposal for the video game industry has been dismissed.

“I think it was a terrible mistake,” says Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. “There are so many other places that are encouraging the video games industry.”

Places such as Montreal, Singapore, and Hong Kong have become havens for developers and publishers due to their support of the industry via subsidies and tax breaks, and companies have flocked to locations that are actively trying to lure talent.